Denver's Top Dentists 2010

You work out, eat right, and get enough sleep, but even the most diligent health nut is known to skip a dental checkup or a nightly flossing. Turns out those itsy-bitsy dental slipups may be as harmful to your health as downing a cheese-laden slice of pizza or skipping your workouts for a couple of months. Poor oral health has been linked to everything from heart disease to complications with pregnancy and diabetes. And, as a result, the health community is paying more attention to what your local dentist has probably already told you: The mouth is the window to the body. Working with topDentists, a company that creates nationwide listings of the best dentists, 5280 found 515 Colorado dentists that will help keep your 32 permanent teeth—and even your body—pain-free and healthy. Now that's something to smile about.

Specialists

Endodontist Treats issues related to nerves and the inner portions of the tooth, like root canal therapy.

General Dentist Performs preventive dental care and basic upkeep, like cleanings and X-rays.

Periodonist Specializes in the periodontium, or supporting tooth structure, to treat gum disease and receding gums.

Prosthodontist Deals with dentures, implants, and bridges, as well as complex crown work.

How the Top Dentists list is created This list is excerpted from the 2010 topDentists list, a database that is created from peer evaluations and includes listings for more than 500 dentists and specialists in Colorado alone. To compile this list, topDentists asked dentists and specialists a question: "If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer him or her to?" The nomination pool consisted of all dentists listed online with the American Dental Association. (Dentists could also nominate themselves or others who may not be on the ADA list.) Respondents were asked to consider experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and results. Once responses were compiled, dentists were checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing. Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this list, and a dentist's inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of fellow dentists. For more information, visit www.usatopdentists.com.